Animal Species:Southern Myotis

Alternative Name/s

Fishing bats; Large-footed Myotis

Habitat

Southern Myotis's roost in tree hollows, caves, mines, culverts and under briddges, often close to water. Sometimes they are found roosting in roofs and ceilings. Usually ten to fifteen bats, though sometimes up to 100 bats, roost together in a colony.

Feeding and Diet

Southern Myotis's feed on aquatic insects and small fish. They fly close to the surface of rainforest streams or large lakes and reservoirs. To catch their prey, they rake the water with the curved claws on their large feet.

Mating and reproduction

Female Southern Myotis's can breed once a year and produce one baby.

Conservation Status

Southern Myotis's are vulnerable to destruction of roost sites in caves by mining, tree hollows by clearing, disturbance by human visitors to cave roosts, changes to feeding areas by forestry and agricultural activities and pollution of rivers.

Classification

Species:

macropus

Genus:

Myotis

Family:

Vespertilionidae

Order:

Chiroptera

Subclass:

Eutheria

Subphylum:

Vertebrata

Phylum:

Chordata

Kingdom:

Animalia

What does this mean?

Last Updated: 16 February 2010

Tags bats, mammals, flight, flying, eutherians, placentals, vertebrates, bats in Australia, identification,